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Broken 16 Inch Water Main

By Dave Jenkins posted May 31, 2023
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This mess was caused by a broken 16 inch waterline. Fortunately, all of the muddy water was contained in a 72″ storm pipe with a valve. Water was then pumped to a Chitosan-enhanced Sand Filtration (CESF) system for treatment to 5 NTUs for discharge to a creek. Knowing this project was going to be constructed over several winter seasons, we specified the CESF system in the contract. Always Be Prepared! Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC
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Biodegradable wattles

By Dave Jenkins posted May 17, 2023
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Biodegradable Wattles I wrote this biodegradable wattles specification for a riverbank habitat restoration project. I wrote the last three sentences for this particular project, which has a 3:1 slope above an intertidal river. We will place 12 inches of compost before installing native plants this winter; without the wattles, wet compost will slide to the base of the slope. BIODEGRADABLE WATTLES Wattles shall consist of 100% biodegradable straw, coir, excelsior or compost encased in 100% biodegradable fabric or mesh. Wattles shall be a minimum of 8 inches in diameter free of cuts tears and damage. The installation of straw wattles shall be ...
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I Can't Get Away From Erosion Control

By Dave Jenkins posted May 03, 2023
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I can’t get away from it. It doesn’t matter where I go, I always see some type of construction erosion issue. I went to visit relatives in Portland, Maine, flying in and out of Boston Logan International. In the terminal, waiting for my flight back home, I saw a construction project on the ramp; it had rained a few says before, hard. Obviously, the stockpile had not been covered before the storm and sediment washed off the pile into the drain. I worked at an airport that operates under strict turbidity effluent limits; here is how they do this kind of work: (1) rarely do they allow stockpiles on the ramp because they rarely reuse the excavated material (it ...
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CESCL Pro Tip No. 1 Grout Storm System Structures

By Dave Jenkins posted Apr 21, 2023
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Check to make sure all manholes, rings, pipes, and other storm-related materials are grouted as soon as possible. Often, grouting takes place after most or all structures are installed. If it rains in the mean time, muddy water can easily enter the storm system. If the system has been connected to a live system, that means non-compliant discharges. If it is not connected, the system will have to be cleaned out before it becomes live. Check out the full video on CESCL tips at: https://lnkd.in/gN6rQkRG #shorts #ieca #cescl #storm #grouting #pnwieca
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Too Much Rain

By Dave Jenkins posted Apr 19, 2023
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Sometimes there’s just too much rain. We were building a new runway, had several hundred acres of open ground, when the big rains came. We were using the stormwater ponds to collect all of the water for a 10 year 7 day storm event. All of the water in the ponds was being treated with chitosan-enhanced sand filtration systems before discharge. The storm of November 6, 2006 was something over the 50 year 24 hour event and something under the 100 year 24 hour event. With the rainfall and the pond over topping, water was discovered draining from the base of the pond. Rock and ecoblocks were placed as an emergency fix to keep the pond from a catastrophic failure. ...
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Secondary Containment Fail

By Dave Jenkins posted Apr 12, 2023
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Why did they fail to put everything into secondary containment? #SecondaryContainment Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​
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Hydroseeding on the Edge

By Dave Jenkins posted Apr 05, 2023
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Finishing the hydroseeding bonded fiber matrix (BFM) along shoulder of runway at Sea Tac International Airport. The area has been amended with compost, track walked, BFM applied to cover 95% minimum. After the BFM cures, the area will be watered to obtain 85% grass cover as soon as possible. 100% nitrogen fertilizer used, 50% slow release, 50% regular. Because of rainfall, nitrogen in the soil is washed out. Phosphorus and potassium test okay in the soil, no need to add more. Time restrictions requiring opening the runway as soon as possible necessitate these measures. Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC
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Is This Silt Fence Necessary?

By Dave Jenkins posted Mar 29, 2023
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Is this silt fence necessary? Overlooking the fact that this silt fence installation needs some maintenance, I wonder if it was ever really needed in this location? The slope grades to the fence are minimal and not very long, and the roadside ditch line is graded so that water will drain away from the road. This type of silt fence installation is appropriate at the base of long, steep slopes, or if there is risk of sediment travelling off site. Also, all of the materials used will likely be land filled and not reused, including the wire backing and the “T” posts. If this were my site, I would have installed orange safety fence with steel “T” posts, maybe ...
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Creek Diversion for Restoration Work

By Dave Jenkins posted Mar 15, 2023
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Some of the steps to consider, plan for, and specify during creek restoration work in a salmon creek: Install fish screens, Electro-shock fish, Relocate Fish, Install check dams to keep water out of the work area Pump and convey creek water, Complete work, Slowly re-introduce creek, Pull out check dams, Remove fish screens #CreekDiversion #Restoration Video: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​​
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Silt Fence Overlap

By Dave Jenkins posted Mar 15, 2023
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#siltfence #overlap Here is a method for joining two pieces of silt fence. Video: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​​​​​​
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Horizontal Silt Fence

By Dave Jenkins posted Mar 08, 2023
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On vacation, while walking around South Congress district south of downtown Austin, I discovered a new best management practice-horizontal silt fence. This makes access to the work area so much easier! Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​
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Geotextile-Foam Check Dam

By Dave Jenkins posted Mar 01, 2023
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Yet another example of poorly installed and maintained check dams. Even worse, it’s hard to install geotextile-foam check dams incorrectly. Here is an installation detail to use as a guide for proper installation: Geotextile-encased Check Dam #Geotextile #checkdam Video: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​​
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Construction Erosion Control Inspection June 2013

By Dave Jenkins posted Feb 22, 2023
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Inspecting a small but busy construction project, checking for things that might be out of compliance with specifications and permits. #ErosionControl Video: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​ ​
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Hog Fuel to the Rescue

By Dave Jenkins posted Feb 15, 2023
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Construction Erosion Inspection Hog Fuel Mulch Prevents Fugitive Dust – You are hauling dirt on a dry day and the dust is flying. The water truck driver’s head is about to explode trying to keep up with the dust control. Save yourself a Labor and Industries claim! Use ground up vegetation (hog fuel)! Don’t haul it to the landfill. #hogfuel Video: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​​
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Dude, Where's My Tire?

By Dave Jenkins posted Feb 08, 2023
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Dude, where’s my tire? The driver had just left the Superfind site with a load of Subtitle D soil. He should have checked his nuts before he left. Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC
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Denver Dirt Pile

By Dave Jenkins posted Feb 01, 2023
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Just a nice dirt pile in Denver. Walking around between presentations at the International Erosion Control Conference in February 2019 and saw this. A little utility work in the street, going to reuse the excavated dirt, placed it on plastic, put some berms around base, no rain in the forecast and the dirt goes back in the hole later in the day so no need for cover. #Excavation #stockpile Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC ​​​ ​
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Turbidity 1-25-250 NTUs

By Dave Jenkins posted Jan 25, 2023
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Photo: Dave Jenkins, CPESC The sample on the left is just under 1 NTU , the middle is 25 NTUs, and the one on the right is 250 NTUs. In Washington state, the Construction Storm Water General NPDES Permit lists benchmarks that construction discharges must meet. These are: 0-25 NTUs everything is cool; 26 -249 NTUs not so good, upgrade your site best management practices ( BMPs ) and modify your SWPPP ; 250 NTUs and above, call the Dept. of Ecology , upgrade BMPs, modify the SWPPP and monitor the water body that the project discharges to until you are in compliance. #turbidity #NTU ​​​
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Sediment Trackout-Not What an Inspector Wants to See

By Dave Jenkins posted Jan 18, 2023
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I just did a quick, random, drive-by of a job and this is what I as the inspector saw. This might tell me that the construction staff, owner and contractor, don’t understand what is required or, haven’t read the TESC specifications. Since this was a random, unannounced, drive-by, I might think that this is not an isolated incident. While I prefer a site be kept clean, as long as stuff doesn’t leave the project boundary, I don’t have an issue. However, by not keeping the site clean, trackout is inevitable. Also, note the Bobcat broom sweeper just inside the fence on the left; these are great for pushing dirt around and up in the air but we only allow vacuum ...
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Bonded Fiber Matrix Needs to Cure

By Dave Jenkins posted Jan 11, 2023
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Bonded Fiber Matrix (BFM) needs to dry for 24 to 36 hours before it rains or else it can start to wash off. Video: David Jenkins, CPESC
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Sand Bag Berm Part 3

By Dave Jenkins posted Jan 06, 2023
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In this sand bag berm part 3 video I show the amount of rain runoff diverted away from a project versus the turbid site water. Video: David Jenkins, CPESC
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